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Millom menace given court’s first stand-alone Asbo

TEENAGER Alan Thomas Johnston has become the first person to be issued with a stand alone Anti-Social Behaviour Order at Furness and District Magistrates Court.

Alan Thomas Johnston: His movements are restricted following his involvement in various incidents

Asbos are commonly issued after a criminal conviction but on Monday, Furness & District Magistrates Court granted the order on its own following an application by West Cumbria’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team involving evidence provided by more than 11 police officers and members of the public.

Cumbria Police initially made an application for an interim order against Johnston, 19, of Newton Street, Millom, on March 17 to help protect the residents of Millom after he was involved in a string of incidents of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour. Since the interim order was granted there have been a number of further incidents of anti-social behaviour involving Johnston which have led to the application for the full order.

Former Millom Inspector Craig Lory gave evidence against Johnston.

He said: “Over many years Alan Johnston has run riot in Millom being involved in criminality, incidents of disorder and acts of nuisance, annoyance and anti-social behaviour.

“This stand alone Asbo shows that we are not prepared to wait until he is convicted of an offence – wherever possible we will act to prevent incidents occurring. This result sends a clear message that if you do not respect your community and insist on making the lives of those around you a misery through anti-social behaviour – your freedom will be restricted. If Johnston doesn’t abide by the terms of his order he will be arrested and he could face a jail term.”

The terms of Johnston’s order state he is only permitted to enter a specified area of the town between 9am and 5pm, he is prohibited from entering any of the premises who are members of the Millom & District Pub Watch Scheme. He also must not act in any manner which causes or is likely to cause harassment alarm or distress towards any other person or encourage or incite any other person to do so.

In summing up, the magistrates commented on Johnston’s behaviour and described him as being “A menace to the people of Millom.”